Helping Montrose businesses grow and be more prosperous in the future is the primary focus of the city’s Development and Revitalization Team (DART). This new entity takes a modern approach to advancing the city’s decade-long efforts to foster business growth in Montrose.

Scope

The Main Street program, which was once a Downtown Development Authority (DDA) initiative, was re-organized by the city under DART in 2017 to focus on expanding business assistance beyond Main Street. DART complements the DDA's downtown-centric efforts within their boundaries by extending the Main Street program approach to a variety of business interests throughout the city.

Over the past decade, the city has invested around $1 million in downtown projects, creating over $22 million in economic growth.

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Success Stories

Over the past decade, the city has invested around $1 million in downtown projects, creating over $22 million in economic growth.

The results of DART programs can be seen throughout Montrose. For example, DART has helped with physical improvements to Storm King Distillery and interior improvements at Back Street Bagels and the Daily Bread bakery on Main Street. With assistance from DART, the Coffee Trader's owners were able to construct an outside seating area with steel barriers for safety at their new store on South Fifth Street.

Future Plans

The community will begin to see a greater reach from DART in the areas of business retention and attraction, economic vitality, promotion, and design as it moves forward with implementation of its Strategic Plan.

Through DART, the city is working to become an accredited Certified Local Government under a process administered by the National Park Service and the State Historic Preservation Office to work in ways to preserve and revitalize the historic buildings in downtown Montrose. Tax credits and other financial services will be available for investors and business owners looking to revitalize downtown's historic properties.

In July 2018, the City Council approved an ordinance that establishes a voluntary, formal structure for preservation of historic structures in the downtown area.

Accreditation

DART was recently accredited by the national Main Street America program in recognition of its exemplary commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach.

The accreditation places the DART program among 829 vibrant, nationally accredited Main Street America communities across the nation who have all worked to generate impressive economic returns, preserve community character, and celebrate local history. DART was nominated by Colorado's Department of Local Affairs Main Street Program for the national accreditation.

Participation

DART’s targeted approach to community revitalization within the city limits is a group effort with representation from city employees, City Council members, local business and property owners, the Montrose Chamber of Commerce, the Montrose County School Board, and a wide range of area non-profit organizations.

This dialogue between a wide cross-section of business interests was created with a vision of placing local employers in high priority when it comes to financial assistance programs offered through DART. Another focus is the preservation of historic properties all over Montrose.